While “open platform” is most common in technology, the concept exists in many other sectors. Open platform is an approach where one company invites other companies to build applications or offer products and services that can be used on their existing platform. Instead of controlling the development pathway; the sponsoring company creates a proprietary interface that enables other companies to build products and services leveraging their assets.

As video surveillance industry insiders can attest, the open platform approach was adopted as a best practice within the past 10 to 15 years as it became apparent that Internet Protocol (IP)-based systems were overtaking incumbent analogue systems. Many security companies touted open platform development as the foundation for their integration platforms, which benefited this fragmented industry by enabling multiple companies to work together to support their specific customers’ needs.

What's inside?

• Introduction
• Trends indicating a need for change
• How to move the video surveillance industry forward
• Conclusion